Feels So Good

That’s the one word I would use for 2-time Grammy winning jazz artist, Chuck Mangione. He’s made the theme song for millions (no, really, he was commissioned to make the 1980 Winter Olympics song, “Give It All You Got,” instant classic), and has made (I’m guessing here) tons of money in the process. When he first came into the jazz club, he had a host escort him and his wife to their own dressing room. His dressing room had a gilded sign with his name in black and his band had a separate room from him. I was already a little nervous going in thinking I wouldn’t get to meet the man who made 2/5ths of the instrumentals I constantly have on rotation (in order: “Summer Madness” by Kool and the Gang, “Feels So Good” by him, “Give It All You Got” by him, “Victory (Instrumental)” by Puffy feat. Biggie and Busta Rhymes, and “I Can’t Help It” by Grover Washington Jr.).

Yet, after performing for almost 2 hours, his awaiting fans were led upstairs near his dressing room. The rest of the band members walked by, and we gave them props, a couple of enthusiasts asking for autographs from them. Other than that, the crowd that clogged the staircase heavily anticipated him. People from all over the world, people who brought his “Feels So Good” album cover encased in a glass frame, people who knew him from his humble beginnings in Rochester, NY and lived across the street from him, and people who always loved that “one tune” and loved the artist attached to it. This would be enough to make any artist into a diva. Not so with this man.

As soon as I shook his hand, I knew I was meeting someone who never lost his sense of self. He had a soft handshake, and he’s probably a good 5’5″ … with platform shoes. When he breaks out his instrument, he’s taller than the rest of us on stage. And what’s more, he actually wanted to sign autographs and take pictures with us. I’m sure he’s heard and seen it all when it comes to fans, but he was utterly patient, even with him being a little tired. Those of us who deem ourselves popular have a lot to learn from that example, in the blogosphere and real life as well.

jose, who will see Juan Luis Guerra and Alejandro Fernandez tomorrow at Madison Square Garden …

Totally reminds me of when I met Gerry Mulligan after a free show he did in Bridgeport back when I was in high school. He was really nice–not only did he sign the posters my friend, my dad and I had taken down from the auditorium, but he insisted that we sit down and eat goldfish crackers with him. His security guy wasn’t happy, but he treated us like friends.

That must have been a great experience, Jeff. It’s those types of moments that let you know how much we not only as fans but fellow artists really appreciate it when these people who we almost worship come down and bless us with human moments. Not that I’m completely deifying them, but you know …

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José Luis Vilson is a math educator, blogger, speaker, and activist in New York City, NY. He has written and spoken about education, math, and race for a number of organizations and publications, including The New York Times, Education Week, The Guardian, Al Jazeera America, Huffington Post, Edutopia, GOOD, and El Diario / La Prensa, NY. For more, click here.

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José Luis Vilson is a math educator, blogger, speaker, activist, and author of This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education. He has written and spoken about education, math, and race for a number of organizations and publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, CNN, Edutopia, and others.

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